lam

¹

[ lam ]

verb (used with object)

, lammed, lam·ming.

1. to beat; thrash.

verb (used without object)

, lammed, lam·ming.

1. to beat; strike; thrash (usually followed by out or into ).

lam

²

[ lam ]

noun

1. a hasty escape; flight.

verb (used without object)

, lammed, lam·ming.

1. to run away quickly; escape; flee:

   I'm going to lam out of here as soon as I've finished.

lām

³

[ lahm ]

noun

1. the 23rd letter of the Arabic alphabet.

Lam

⁴

[ lahm, lam ]

noun

1. Wi·fre·do [wi-, frey, -doh] or Wil·fre·do [wil-, frey, -doh], 1902–82, Cuban painter in Europe.

lam.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. laminated.

Lam.

⁶

abbreviation for

, Bible.

1. Lamentations.

Lam.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Lamentations

lam

²

/ læm /

noun

1. a sudden flight or escape, esp to avoid arrest
2. on the lam
   1. making an escape
   2. in hiding

verb

1. intr to escape or flee

lam

³

/ læm /

verb

1. tr to thrash or beat
2. intr; usually foll by into or out to make a sweeping stroke or blow

Word History and Origins

Origin of lam¹

1590–1600; < Old Norse lamdi, past tense of lemja to beat; akin to lame ¹

Origin of lam²

1885–90; special use of lam ¹. Compare beat it! be off!

Origin of lam³

From Arabic; lambda

Word History and Origins

Origin of lam¹

C19: perhaps from lam ¹(hence, to be off)

Origin of lam²

C16: from Scandinavian; related to Old Norse lemja

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the lam, escaping, fleeing, or hiding, especially from the police:

   He's been on the lam ever since he escaped from jail.

2. take it on the lam, to flee or escape in great haste:

   The swindler took it on the lam and was never seen again.

More idioms and phrases containing lam

see on the lam .

Example Sentences

Gatland's critics will immediately put forward a long list of candidates, naming Michael Cheika, Shaun Edwards, Brad Mooar, Tony Brown, Franco Smith and Pat Lam as alternative options and there will be others.

From BBC

Madi Lam, Santa Margarita, 5-7, Jr.: The flag football quarterback averaged 18.6 points for Esperanza.

From Los Angeles Times

A mild-mannered figure who had risen through the ranks at Wigan, the club recruited him from within for his first head coach role, replacing the outgoing Adrian Lam, who had failed to put a dent in the St Helens dynasty that had begun under Justin Holbrook with their 2019 Grand Final triumph against Salford.

From BBC

Peet enjoyed a similar trajectory, working his way through a number of roles and a spell in rugby union to succeed Adrian Lam after the 2021 season.

From BBC

Last week, LAM museum detailed the now-viral chain of events involving an elevator technician and beer cans created by French artist Alexandre Lavet.

From Los Angeles Times